Monday, September 21, 2015

I am sure most of us have had the experience in which we get into some passionate frenzy with something and fall in love with our art whether it be words, beads, jewelry, painting --- whatever ---and we find we can't edit. We just can't bring ourselves to chop one itsy bitsy comma away.

Now, normally, I am one who tends to have trouble adding more. I get this tight feeling in my tummy and wince when I think of more, more, more and have to look away to let my hand do what it pleases.

I had just gotten home from the Clay Carnival in Vegas and was rummaging through my beads looking for candidates on which to practice my new riveting technique. Once the riveting was done, I felt the beads needed something more. But what I was not sure.

Then I saw it out of the corner of my eye. A wad of ribbon had heaped itself over a large wooden basket I keep it in. It was literally dangling over a couple shelves and I could see it out of the corner of my eye every time I used the computer.

I don't have any ears missing or anything like that but I felt mad (in an insanely giddy way) when I saw it. I suddenly knew just what to do and my head and heart and hands were all in sync. Away I went and came up with this piece which I initially liked...

Until a week or so later when I took a picture of myself in it and felt it looked too over the top. Here is that picture below. Decided it needed a trim. Common sense does kick in with some distance. he he.

Here is the final product. I removed ribbon on bottom and trimmed the top ribbons. Phew! That was close!!!! This one is now in my shop at: Shanty Chic Beads on Etsy

Living in Key West, FL certainly has its pluses. Getting access to good poly clay and other beading classes is not one of them. So when I saw there was going to be a poly clay class in Las Vegas with masters from around the globe, um, I salivated. Yep, big ole puddle in my studio.

Before I was even finished drooling cause every class was spectacular, I registered. You know I did not want my mind to kick in with all the reasons why I should not spend the money. I went with my heart. And boy, am I ever glad I did cause it awakened a whole new level of creativity in me.

The first class I had was with Jana Roberts Benson. We created pins using a technique of layering clays, inking with alcohol inks, and slicing that Jana has perfected. Here is the result.

Next up I think was Judy Belcher's class in which we explored a 50 shades of gray technique by creating canes with black and white clay. Here is my result. These will likely be earrings. I wish I could really get a good shot cause these look like they move!!!! and no, I have not been indulging in cocktails!!!!

It just kept getting better. Next up was Bettina Welker's class where we learned how to rivet beads to create movement!!! Oh, was I excited about this technique. In this class we basically all made one of two necklace designs though we embellished as we pleased and some students went off the grid a bit. I stuck to the design but embellished to fit my tastes. Also, I altered the colors of the skinner blends we created to achieve a brighter color. Here is the result.

Creating all kinds of critters using sculpting techniques is one of Leslie Blackford's special talents . I wanted one of my beads to be a rooster cause, well, I do live in Key West where roosters freely roam the streets. Little did I know that Leslie gets the willies just thinking about a rooster or chicken. ha ha. But, she was game in giving me tips. Just did not want to look at my guy, Referee rooster. Also created a jailhouse clown and a abstract ring from scrap clay. These are Snap rings that you make by attaching your sculpted bead to the snap part of the ring. Here is the result.

Dawn Schiller's speciality is creating gnome like creatures with great detailing. She showed us the basic technique and then we each were able to make our own creature. My little man is rocking some hair.

Natalia Garcia makes some really contemporary pieces and has the coolest little glass rounds she uses to create tiny bowls that look like ceramic bowls. I was so enamoured with how the bowls turned out, I bought 2 bags of the glass rounds. For her class, I created this pendant.

On the last day, Donna Kato taught how to make a rocking funky flower ring that involved making a ring base, transferring words, and adding clay flowers. I totally sucked at cutting the shapes for the words so I had Donna help. Need to practice that for sure.

This was not my first experience using Kato clay but this time I fell in love with it. Love the sturdiness of it. I baked a really really thin piece and it did not break.

I can't wait to see what Donna (who manages the festival) comes up with for the Clay Carnival 2016. Donna also manages a craft site which has awesome tutorials. Click on following link to go to her education site which includes beading and other art classes besides clay. http://craftartedu.com/